Steering column assembly including a mechanical strut and machine using same

Abstract

A machine includes a steering column assembly and a mechanical strut pivotably attached to the steering column assembly. The mechanical strut, free of pressurized gas, is positioned to tilt at least a portion of the steering column assembly about an axis. A tilt adjustment mechanism is movable to release a friction lock mechanism within the mechanical strut. The mechanical strut is telescopically movable through a continuous range of positions when the friction lock mechanism is released.

1. A machine, comprising:
 a steering column assembly; 
 a mechanical strut pivotably attached to the steering column assembly and positioned to tilt at least a portion of the steering column assembly about an axis, wherein the mechanical strut is free of pressurized gas; 
 a trigger movable to release a friction lock mechanism, which includes a frustoconical shape, within the mechanical strut; and 
 wherein the mechanical strut is telescopically movable through a continuous range of positions when the friction lock mechanism is released. 
 
     
     
       2. The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical strut includes a first attachment end pivotably attached to a steering wheel base of the steering column assembly and a second attachment end pivotably attached to a steering column of the steering column assembly. 
     
     
       3. A machine, comprising:
 a steering column assembly; 
 a mechanical strut pivotably attached to the steering column assembly and positioned to tilt at least a portion of the steering column assembly about an axis, wherein the mechanical strut is free of pressurized gas; 
 a trigger movable to release a friction lock mechanism within the mechanical strut; 
 wherein the mechanical strut is telescopically movable through a continuous range of positions when the friction lock mechanism is released; and 
 a guard member extending over an end of an outer tube of the mechanical strut and including an opening therethrough for receiving an inner tube of the mechanical strut. 
 
     
     
       4. The machine of  claim 3 , further including a first locking member of the friction lock mechanism attached to an end of the inner tube and configured to receive a second locking member. 
     
     
       5. The machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first locking member includes at least one movable finger for receiving a substantially frustoconical shape of the second locking member. 
     
     
       6. The machine of  claim 5 , further including a spring for biasing the first and second locking members into engagement, wherein the second locking member is configured to move at least a portion of the first locking member into frictional engagement with an inner surface of the outer tube during engagement. 
     
     
       7. The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the trigger is pivotably attached to an attachment end of the inner tube for moving the second locking member out of engagement with the first locking member. 
     
     
       8. The machine of  claim 7 , further including a threaded member having a first end positioned within the trigger and a second end having external threads on a portion thereof, wherein the threaded member is movable within the inner tube along a linear axis in response to movement of the trigger. 
     
     
       9. The machine of  claim 8 , further including an elongate sleeve having a first end including a spiral patterned protrusion on an internal surface thereof and a second end having a hexagonal shaped bore therethrough, wherein linear movement of the threaded member causes the external threads of the threaded member to engage the spiral patterned protrusion of the elongate sleeve and cause rotational movement thereof 
     
     
       10. The machine of  claim 9 , further including a rod having a hexagonal shaped first end extending through the hexagonal shaped bore of the elongate sleeve and a second end threadably attached to the second locking member, wherein rotational movement of the elongate sleeve causes rotational movement of the rod. 
     
     
       11. The machine of  claim 10 , further including a key positioned within at least a portion of each of the first locking member and the second locking member for preventing one of the first locking member and the second locking member from rotating relative to the other, wherein rotational movement of the rod causes linear movement of the second locking member. 
     
     
       12. A method of tilting at least a portion of a steering column assembly about an axis, comprising:
 actuating a trigger of the steering column assembly to release a friction lock mechanism of a mechanical strut; 
 tilting the portion of the steering column assembly through a continuous range of positions; and 
 releasing the trigger to engage the friction lock mechanism of the mechanical strut; 
 wherein movement of the friction lock mechanism includes translating rotational movement into linear movement. 
 
     
     
       13. A method of tilting at least a portion of a steering column assembly about an axis, comprising:
 actuating a trigger of the steering column assembly to release a friction lock mechanism of a mechanical strut; 
 tilting the portion of the steering column assembly through a continuous range of position; 
 releasing the trigger to engage the friction lock mechanism of the mechanical strut; 
 biasing at least one of a first locking member of the friction lock mechanism and a second locking member of the friction lock mechanism into engagement with the other; and 
 moving the first locking member into frictional engagement with an inner surface of the mechanical strut. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the actuating step includes moving the second locking member out of biased engagement with the first locking member. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the actuating step includes:
 moving a threaded member along a linear axis; and 
 causing external threads of the threaded member to engage a spiral patterned protrusion of an elongate sleeve and cause rotational movement thereof. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the actuating step further includes causing a hexagonal shaped bore of the elongate sleeve to engage a hexagonal shaped portion of a rod and cause rotational movement thereof. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the actuating step further includes preventing one of the first and second locking members from rotating relative to the other in response to rotational movement of the rod, thereby causing linear movement of the second locking member. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tilting step includes tilting a steering wheel of the steering column assembly about a horizontal axis. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tilting step includes tilting a steering column of the steering column assembly about a horizontal axis. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the tilting step includes adjusting a length of the mechanical strut to one of a continuous range of lengths between a fully extended length and a fully retracted length.